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Picture courtesy of Noonan's

Ashantee 1873 (0) (W. R. Dodridge. Clerk, R.N. H.M.S. Beacon. 73-74.);
Egypt (1) Alexandria 11th July (W. R. Dodridge. Ast. Paymr. R.N. H.M.S. “Cygnet”) rank officially corrected;
IGS 1854 (1) Burma 1885-7 (W. R. Dodridge, Asst. Paymr. R.N. H.M.S. Bacchante) officially impressed naming;
QSA (0) (St. Paymr. W. R. Dodridge, R.N. H.M.S. Gibraltar.);
BWM (Payr. Mr. in Ch. W. R. Dodridge. R.N.);
Coronation 1911, unnamed as issued;
Khedive’s Star, dated 1882 (1) Tokar clasp, unnamed as issued

Noonan;s say approximately 14 Tokar clasps issued to Royal Navy officers, including 7 to H.M.S. Dolphin.

William Reid Dodridge was born in Portsmouth, Hampshire, on 6 July 1853. He entered the Royal Navy as an Assistant Clerk in December 1870, was promoted to Clerk in December 1871, Assistant Paymaster in December 1874, Paymaster in June 1890, Staff Paymaster in June 1896, and Fleet Paymaster in June 1898. He reached the pinnacle of his profession on promotion to Paymaster in Chief in 1909, which rank was later changed to Paymaster Captain. He retired in 1911 after 40 years service including time spent on shore with Naval Brigades in Ashantee in 1873, in Burma during 1885 and in the Sudan in 1891.

The rare aspect of this group is not in the 4 different campaign medals, which are however not common, but in the 'Tokar' Clasp on the Khedives Star. No British medal was issued for the action at Tokar in the Sudan, which took place on 19 February 1891. Those officers and men from H.M. Ships Dolphin and Sandfly became entitled to an undated Star and Clasp, or Clasp only if already in possession of a Star for previous service. Dodridge was Paymaster of Dolphin from September 1890 to October 1893, during which period the ship assisted the Egyptian Army with transport duties at Tokar.

Recalled for service in World War I, he served on shore at President and Fisgard, and received the British War Medal.

He died on 5 January 1928, aged 75.

Picture courtesy of Noonan's

CB (MIlitary( n/b;
East and West Africa 1887 (1) Benin 1897 (Lieut. E. V. Underhill H.M.S. Philomel) official correction to one letter of surname;
QSA (0) (Lieut. E. V. Underhill, R.N. H.M.S. Gibraltar);
1914-15 Star (Capt. E. V. Underhill, R.N.);
British War and Victory Medals, with MID (Capt. E. V. Underhill. R.N.);
Coronation 1911, unnamed as issued;
Khedive’s Star, undated, with Tokar clasp, unnamed as issued;
Russia, Kingdom, Order of St Anne, 2nd Class neck badge with Swords by Eduard, gold and enamels, one sword blade detached on this;
Spain, Order of Naval Merit, 3rd Class breast star, white model (special service), silver-gilt and enamels

Noonan's say approximately 14 Tokar clasps issued to Royal Navy officers, including 7 to HMS.Sandfly.

CB (Military) London Gazette 3 June 1918: ‘For services in command of HMS Temeraire.’

His Naval service is amply recorded in The Times obituary from 4 May 1928: ‘Admiral Edwin Veale Underhill, CB, whose death occurred suddenly at South-Sea on Sunday at the age of 60, saw active service on three occasions during land operations in the ‘90’s, and was a Captain throughout the late war, being in command of a battleship at Jutland. He was afterwards Admiral-Superintendent at Devonport.

Admiral Underhill came from a naval family, for his father was Paymaster-in-Chief G. W. Underhill, R.N., of Lugley House, Newport, Isle of Wight. Born on March 27, 1868, the late Admiral entered the Britannia as a Cadet in January 1881, and first
went to sea two years later in the screw corvette Sapphire, which commissioned at Devonport under Captain (later Admiral Sir) John Fullerton for the China Station.

Promoted to Lieutenant in October 1890, he was serving in the Sandfly, gunboat, during the operations at Tokar, Eastern Sudan, in 1891, for which he was awarded the Khedive's bronze Star [with clasp 'Tokar']. He specialised in the navigating branch, and as Lieutenant (N) of the cruiser Philomel was present when the Sultan of Zanzibar's palace was bombarded and captured on August 27, 1896, by the Squadron under Rear Admiral Rawson. Six months later he was landed for duty with the expedition under the Rear Admiral for the punishment of the King of Benin for the massacre of a political expedition, and was awarded the General Africa Medal with Benin clasp.

He was promoted to Commander in June 1902, and to Captain in December 1907, at which latter date he was on the staff at Portsmouth Dockyard. A few weeks before the outbreak of War with Germany he took Command of HMS Devonshire in the Third Cruiser Squadron, Grand Fleet, and in March 1916, was transferred to command H.M.S. Temeraire, in the Fourth Battle Squadron. For his services in the Temeraire at Jutland he was commended in Admiral Jellicoe's despatch, and in June 1918, was appointed CB. The Temeraire was placed during the action in the Fourth Division, led by Vice-Admiral Sturdee in the Benbow.

In his report on the battle Captain Underhill stated that the Temeraire was not hit but a few shots fell close, notably one which came close to the mainmast and one which hit the water about 500 yards short on the starboard bow, passing over the forecastle. “The behaviour of the ship's company”, he added, “was all that could be desired, they were cheerful and eager for the fight” Leaving the Temeraire on his promotion to rear-admiral in February 1919, Admiral Underhill was nominated in the following September as Admiral Superintendent at Devonport Dockyard where he served until September 1922. On September 1, 1924 he was promoted to Vice-Admiral, and retired as from the following day, being advanced to Admiral on the retired List on April 5, 1928.’

Underhill’s record of service also confirms that ‘Bronze Star awarded for operations at Tokar Feb ‘91’; Spanish “Cross for Naval Merit of the Third Class” conferred on him by King of Spain on occasion of launch of a Spanish Ship at Ferrol, February 1912; Order of St Anne 2nd Class with Swords 5 June 1917.’ He was appointed ADC to the King from 3 September 1918 to 3 February 1919.

Picture courtesy of Noonan's

QSA (0) (W. E. Pearce, Cooper., H.M.S. Gibraltar.);
1914-15 Star (157073, W. E. Pearce, Cpr., R.N.);
British War and Victory Medals (157073 W. E. Pearce. Cpr. 1. R.N.);
Royal Navy LS&GC Ed VII (157073 W. E. Pearce, Cooper, H.M.S. Victory.)

William Edward Pearce was born in Bristol on 3 November 1869 and joined the Royal Navy as a Cooper on 8 September 1890. He served in HMS Gibraltar from 5 March 1901 to 17 June 1904, and was awarded his Long Service and Good Conduct Medal on 26 April 1909.

He served in a variety of ships and shore based establishments during the Great War, and was promoted Cooper First Class on 1 October 1918.

He was shore demobilised from H.M.S. Research on 15 May 1919.